Apparatus for drawing sheet glass



d. azrawma Sept. 9 192%., 1,508,049

T. B. CAMPBELL. JR

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS Filed Dec. 23 1921 4 Sheets-Sheetv 1 lNl/ENTOI? Sept. 9. 1924. 1,508,049

T. s. CAMPBELL, JR

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS Filed 0120.23. 1921 4 Sheets-aneet 2 WITNESSES 11:: fjjfllii Sept. 9 192% 1,508,049

T. B. CAMPBELL, JR

APPARATUSFOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS Filed Dec. 23

FIEfi:

192.1 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W m N /4- a lNl/E/VTOR I 021... 3W}; WITNESSES 7 Sept. 1924 1,508,049

T. B. CAMPBELL, JR

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS Filed Dec. 23 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fl 5.. E

. ,e ee mm Patented Sept. 9, i924.

ienr i THOMAS E. CAMPBE L, JR, IITTfiBURGH, PENNSYLVARIA.

APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET (ELASS Application filed. December as, 1921. Serial no. 524,531.

ploved for drawing sheet-glass and has for an bbject is simple and durable in construction, is free from arts which will readily get out of order an Special vide means whereby a sheet of glass may be continuously drawn at a constant rate of .speed in a rectilinear )ath, to provide means 2 for automatically an periodically severing suitable sizes or sections of the drawn sheet and transferring them to the imam provide simplified cooling means forthe ing rol s used in conjunction with t e .rawing mechanism proper, to provide mechanism for drawing the sheet comprising a pair of reciprocating gripping frames, andto provide an apparatus in which the gripping rolls drawing frames and cutting and transferring mechanism are in align ment to assure the complete formation of the glass sheet'while traveling in a rectilinear path.

These and other objects of the-invention will more readily appear nection with the following description and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged detail view of the gr pping rolls and the cooling means used in connection therewith; Fig. 4: a plan View showing the arrangement of the operating mechanism and the conveyor for carrying the formedplates to the leer; ig. 5 a transverse sectional view with parts in elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 an enlarged detail view of the gearing emplo ed for actuating the drawing frames; Fig. F a similar view of the provision of a machine which Willfih.

which is efiicient in operation. objects of the invention are to prorespectively.

when taken in conthe gear for acuating the nism, and Fig. 8 an enlar the magnetic actuating evioe. v

in carrying out this invention the glass may be melted in an ordinary hearth l of which the drawings show only the end which the worked. opening his hearth communicates by glass reaches when ready to be- 4 00 2 with a small reservoir 3 receiving breaking mecha- 'ed detail view of the lass which is to be drawn into sheets or p ates. The top provided with an opening 5 through which the molten glass is drawn; Surmounting the reservoir and disposed above the therein is a supporting frame work designated as a whole by the numeral 6 and coinl of the reservoir-is openrng prising the upright joists/Z the transverse] members 8, 9, 9' and the braces 10; Le

outed at the top of the frameworkisa plat 1 form 11 on which the operating mechanism for the several parts together with its driving motor is mounted. Located thereof is a belt which is suitably veyor is of braced as at 13. This com the usual endless belt type,

at one side conveyor 12 the body 015*" itsf rollers and belt being indicated at '14 andlfi pair of uprights 1'6 and 1'5- bridged by a cross piece 18 carrying the drum 19'are mounted upon the upper end of the frame work 6 in which is ournaled the shaft 20 1 for actuating the'drums for hoisting one of the drawing frames presently to be de--- scribed.

The joists 7 are provided with guides 21 I the drawing frames for gripping the sheet of glass on which ride. A pair of frames are employed in the embodiment illustrated, one reciprocating in the upper portion and the otherm the lower portion of the frame work. Since both frames are of identical construction it will be necessary to paiticularly describe but one of them. Each frame consists of side blocks 22, 22

at each side of its 24 and 25 carrying strips 26, 27.

to section 24:, and a o section25, the two links I suchconnected by the intermediate member 23. I

I of solenoid 32 fixed to the member 23. Each sideof both the upper and lower drawing frames is constructed as described and the gripping strips 26, 27 extend therebetween. Due to the inclination of sections 24, 25 and the weight of the parts connected thereto it isevident that the strips 26, 27 are forced towards each other to grip the sheet of glass being drawn which is indicated at 33, whenever the solenoids are de-energized.

Mounted in bearin blocks 34, 35 disposed at opposite sides of the opening 5 are the shafts, 36, 36 carrying the cooperating pairs of-gripping rolls 37, 38 which are adapted to; rip the edges of the glass sheet 33, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, such shafts being connected by suitable gearing 39 so as to rotate in unison. In order to keep the gripping rolls from becoming too hot, the nozzles 40 are provided for directing an air blast against the sides thereof. Air is led by any suitable means to the body portion 41 of the nozzles, from which it is delivered to the two branches terminating in close proximity of the rolls.

Fixed to the shaft 20 are the gripping drums 42, 42 about which are wound the cables 43, 43, the lower ends of which are attached to the lower drawing frame. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 20 between the drums 42, 42 is a sleeve 44 having hoistiiig drums 45,45 fixed thereto about which are wound cables 46, 46 attached to the upper drawing frame.

Mounted upon suitable supporting mem hers at the top of the frame work 6 above the upper limit of movement of the drawing frames and in alignment with the pass between the gripping rolls and the transverse gripping strips 26, 27 is a combined breaking and transferring mechanism comprising a a bending section 47 and a transferring sec.-

tion 48 having arms 49 which extend between'the belts of the conveyorwhen in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each of these sections is pivoted on a common axis 50 slightly offset from the path of travel of the glass sheet 33 so that the drawn sheet may readily pass therebctwcen. An upwardly extending car 51 on section 47 is pivotally connected to rod 52, and a similar downwardl extending our 53 on the section 48 is likewise connected to a rod 54, both rods being guided in bracket 55,01) cross piece 56. The ends of rods 52 and 54 operatively engage ram grooves 57, 58 forinedin the faces of gears 59 and 60 rcspectively. 1 v

I The gear F9 is fixed to aishalt 61 journuled in bearing blocks 62, 63, 64 upon plat--. form '11 and the gear 60 is fixed to a shaft 65 siniilarly mounted. In order to rotate said gears, shaft 61 has attached thereto be tween bearing blocks 63, 64, sprocket wheel 66 with which achain 67 engages, said chain tensors sheet of glass prior to its being broken by the bending section of the transferring mechanism above described is also disposed above the upper limit of travel of the drawing frames and comprises a cutter block in which the cutter 76 is fixed, said block being mounted for reciprocation upon the cross piece 56 and a similar cross piece 56 slightly spaced therefrom. Block 75 is attached to the upper limb of an endless chain 7 7 engaging sprocket wheels 7 8 and 79 fixed to shafts suitably journaled at opposite sides of the frame work, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 80 to which the wheel 79 is fixed carries a pinion 81'driven by means of chain 82 meshing with gear 83 on stub shaft Av pinion 85 tired to the stub shaft is engaged by a rack 86, the opposite ends of which are connected to the movable cores of the respective solenoids 87, 88. The parts are so" designed that reciprocation of the rack 86 upon energization of either solenoid will through 'the gearing just described cause the block 75 with its cutter 76 to move entirely across the sheet 33 and a sufficient distance there-beyond to avoid interference with the upward travel of the sheet 33.

Foralternately energizing the solenoids 87 and 88, and for energizing the solenoids 32 to release the gripping action of the drawing frames during downward movement thereof, a contact drum 89 fixed to shaft 90 journailed in. bearing blocks 74 and 74 is provided, shaft 90 being rotated by means of an electric motor 91 which is open atively connected thereto by worm 92 and worm gear 93, the leads forthe motor being indicated at'94 and 95. The drum 89 has mounted thereon a seriesof contact plates 96, 97, 98 and 99 for bridging the pairs of terminals 100, 101, 102 and 103 and so disposed so as to close the circuits of the sole} noids 87, 88, the upper and the lower solenoids 32, respectively, in the proper sequence and for the desired duration.

The shaft'90 extends slightly beyond the frame work 6 and has a sprocket gear 104 fixed thereon through which a chain 105 e ngaging a similar gear 106 fixed to a shaft 107 is driven for actuatin the belts 15 of the conveyor previously described; I ixed 'to its other extremity is a sprocket gear 108 engaged by chain 109 which drives the gear a chain 114 engaging the gear 115 for rotating the sleeve 44, and a short shaft 116 journalled in bearing blocks 74 and 117 has fixed thereto asprocket wheel 118 with which a chain 119 engages for driving the gear 120 on the extremity of shaft 20.

In order to reciprocate the drawing frames the shaft and the slcevet are alternately rotated in opposite directitms, and in order to cause the frames to rise at a constant and uniform speed and descend rapidly to assure at least one of the frames moving upwardly at all times, the following mechanism is provided: Shafts 90and 72 have the similar gears 121, 122 respec tively, fixed thereto which are adapted to mesh with each other, and fixed to shaft 72 on the opposite sides ot gear; 122 are gears 123 and 12 1 both of yvlnchiare mutilated. Shaft 90, likewise, carr es mutilated gears 125, 126 on opposite sides of the gear 121, the gear 123 being identical to gear 126 and gear 124 being identical to gear 125.. A

' pinion 127 fixed to shaft 111 meshes with gears 123, 125, and a corresponding pinion 128 of like size fixed to shaft 116 meshes with gears 12d and 126. Gears 123 and 126 have teeth throughout a portion of their extent while gears 124 and 125 are provided with teeth throughout their peripheries, the sum of the angular extents throughout which teeth are provided on either pair of gears 12 1, 126 or 123, 125 being equal to 360 degrees. However, each of the several gears is provided with the same number of teeth.

Motor 91 constantly rotates shaft 90 through the worm and worm wheel 92, 93 and since shafts 90 and 72 are connected by the similar gears 121, 122, it is obvious that said shafts together with their respective gears are constantly rotated in opposite di rections at the same speed. It is obvious that pinion 128 is first rotated in' one direction by gear 124 and then in the opposite direction an equal number of turns by gear 126 during each revolution of shaft 72, and pinion 127 is likewise rotated by the gears 123. It is also apparent that during engagement of gears 123 and 126 with its respective pinion, the same will be rotated at a l'iigher speed than'when engaged by the smaller gears 124:, 125. Shaft 116 is connected through chain 119 to the shaft 20 to cause rotation of drums 42, 42 to raise the lower drawing frame during engagement of the smaller gear 1:14 and to lower said frame during engagement of the larger gear 126 with pinion 123. Similarly, shaft 111 is connected through chain 114 to sleeve 44 to rotate drums 4.1, 15 to raise the upper drawing frame during engagement of the small gear and to lower said frame during engagement of the larger gcar 123 with pinion 127. it is also noted that the relative the greater extent of angular extent of the small and large gears is such that one of the smaller gears is always in mesh with either pinion 127 or 128 so that one of the drawing frames is at all times moving in an-upward direction to effect the draw ng of glass sheet 33. The

number of contacts 96 and 97, so that the breaking mechanism is actuated after each ,revolution of the cutter across the drawn sheet. The cam grooves provided on the face of said gears are so shaped and disposed as to maintain the bending section 47 in the position shown in Fig. 5 throu hout the greater portion of the revolution 0% gear 60. The transferring section 49 is then moved upwardly into contact with the sheet, thus gripping the sheet between the two sections. Both sections 17, 49 are then simultaneously rocked towards the right about 60 degrees breaking off a plate or pane of sheet 33 at the line previously marked by cutter 76, the bending section being returned to its initial position while the transferring section continues its movement until it finally'reaches the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Just before section 48 reaches this extreme limit of movement towards the right, the arms 49 supporting the severed plate of glass ass below the upper limbs of the conveyor elt 15 depositing the plate thereon which is carried by the conveyor to the annealing leers,

not shown.

In order to start the apparatus the glass in the reservoir should be brought to the proper consistency at which time a bait of any suitable construction is lowered by means of the drum 19, the sections of the breaking mechanism and of the drawing frames being positioned. so as to permit the bait to pass between them. After the drawn sheet has been initially started by raising the bait and the sheet is engaged by the gripping rolls 37 the sections of the drawmg frames are permitted to also grip the sheet and the upper end of the sheet cut to remove the bait, after which the motor 91 is started to put the machine into operation.-

The gripping rolls 37 not onlyassist in the drawing of the sheet but function to maintain a uniform width thereof during the drawing operation, and theuseof an air cooling blast for said rolls eliminates the necessity for cumbersome water cooling apparatus so-frequcntly found in connection with glass drawing machines.

trated, in Fig. 6 causes the sets of hoisting drums 42, 42, and 4:5, d5 to be similarly rotated. Movement of the drums due to the cable connections to the drawing frames causes said frames to be reciprocated in the framexwork, upward movement thereof he-- ing at a uniform constant speed and their downward movement at an increased speed, Due to the gearing employed, one of the frames is moved upwardly at all times during which movement strips 26, 27 contact with the sheet of glass to grip the same and effect the drawing operation. As soon as a drawing frame reaches its upward limit of movement the contacts 98 or 99 bridge the terminals 102 or 103 to energize the solenoids 32 to retract strips 26, 27 of its associated frame to release its gripping action, such solenoids being energized during the entire downward travel of the--frames This assures the sheet being drawn atfa constant speed resulting in a homogeneous product.

The drawn sheet passes above the main frame work and between sections 47 and 48 ofthe breaking and transferring machanisms, and at each revolution of the drum 89 one of the contacts 96 or 97 momentarily bridges the terminals 100 or '101 to energize either the solenoid 87 or 88 to draw the out ter 76 across the face of the glass sheet. The solenoids are energized alternately so that the cutter is reciprocated across the face of the sheet, cutting a pane first by movement in one direction and the succeeding pane by movement in the opposite direction.

Following the actuation of the cutter, one of the groups of teeth on gear 71 engages pinion to bring the breaking mechanism into play, the bending section 4 7 causing the plate or pane to be broken along the line previously marked by the cutter 76, -and the continuing movement of the transferring section 48 depositing the severed portions upon the belt conveyor to be carried to the leers. I

It is thus seen that the invention providesa complete sheet-glass drawin*g apparatus operated by a single motor in which the sheet is drawn continuously at a constant speed by a pair of reciprocating drawing frames of simple and durable construction, one in which the sheet is completely drawn without changing its direction of movement, that is in a rectilinear direction, one in which the several steps such as drawing, cutting, breaking and transferring the drawn plate, are automatically accomplished by mechanism free from complicated parts liable to get out of order, and one which me be constructed at a nominal cost.

s required by the patent statutes the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described but it is evident that various changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the .invention beyond that particularly pointed cirtand defined in the appended claims.

it claim: l. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a framework, a plurality of reciprocating drawing frames mounted therein including cooperating gripping members pivoted to the frames and disposed. at opposite sides of the drawn sheet, means for moving the gripping members into contact with the drawn sheet during movement of the frame in one direction, means for moving said gripping members entirely out of contact with the drawn sheet during movement of the frame in the opposite direction, and means for maintaining one of said frames in movement at a uniform speed in a single direction at alltimes.

2. A sheet-glass drawing apparatnscornprising a'framcworlr, a plurality of drawing frames mounted therein including a pair of oppositely disposed cooperating gripping members pivotally connectedto each of the frames, means for normally urgiing said gripping members towards each other, during movement of the frame'to which they are connected in one direction, means for bodily moving both of said grip ping members away from each other during movement of the frame in the opposite direction, means for moving the drawing frames in said first named direction at a constant speed, and means for maintaining at least one pair of said gripping members at all times in gripping relation with the sheet being drawn.

3. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a framework, a reciprocating drawing frame mounted therein including a pair of cooperating gripping members adapted to be disposed at the opposite sides of the drawn sheet pivoted to the frame, means for bodily moving both of the said gripping members into contact with the drawn sheet during movement of the frame in one di rection, means for bodily: moving both of said members entirely out of contact with the drawn sheet during movement of the frame in the opposite direction, and means soaoee for moving the said frame at a uniform speed during its movement in said first named direction.

'4. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus com- I prising a frame-work, a plurality of recipupon the sheet being gripped.

' tions between which the sheet 5. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus oomprisinga framework, a pair of reciprocal-b ingdrawing frames mounted therein and provided with bodily movable gripping seceing drawn is gripped during upward movement of the frames, a pair of rotatable drums, a cable twined about each of said drums and com nected to one of said frames, means for intermittently moving the said pivoted sections into and out of gripping relation with the drawn sheet, and means for-intermittently rotating said drums in opposite directions. I

6. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a framework, a plurality of vertically reciprocating drawing frames adapted to intermittently grip the sheet beingdrawn, means for moving the'dr'awing frames upwardly at a uniform and constant speed, means for keeping at least one of said frames recipro cating upwardly at all times, and means for causing said frames to move downwardly at a greater speed than during their upward movement.

7. ,A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising ,a framework, a pair of vertically reciprocating drawing frames provided with bodily movable pivoted sections between which the sheet being drawn is gripped during upward movement of the frames, means for urging said pivoted sections into gripping relation with the drawn sheet during upward movement of the frames, means for moving said frames upwardly at a uniform constant speed, means for maintaining at least one of said frames moving upwardly at all times, and means for bodily moving the said sections entirely out of contact with the drawn sheet for releasing the gripping action thereof during the downward movement of the frames.

8. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comrising a framework, a pair of reciprocatmg drawing frames having pivoted sections between which the sheet being drawn is glpipped during upward movement of the ames, SOlQIlOlClS operati-vely connected to said sections to separate the same, means for moving the frames upwardly at a uniform constant speed, means for maintaining at vleast one of saidframes in upward movement at all times, and means for energizing the solenoids to release the gripping action of the frames during their downward movement.

9. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a reservoir having an opening therein, a main supporting framework above said opening, drawing frames reciprocating therein, gripping rolls disposed between the frames and opening, and breaking mechanism above said frames, the gripping rolls, drawing frames and breaking mechanism being in substantial alignment whereby the sheet is completely formed during rectilinear movement thereof. v

10. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a reservoir having an opening in its top, a supporting framework above the opening, air-cooled rollers adjacent said opening for gri ping the edges of the drawn sheet, vertical y I reciprocating drawi frames mounted in the framework, aiig breaking mechanism pivoted above the upper limit of travel 0 the drawing frames, the opening, gripping rolls, drawing frames,

and breaking mechanism being disposed in substantially vertical ali nment.

11. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comrising a reservoir provided with an opening, a supporting framework positioned above the reservoir, a pair of cooperatinlg1 gripping rolls disposed above and at eac side of said opening, drawing frames composed of pivoted sections mounted for vertidal reciprocation in the framework, and a breaking mechanism also composed of pivoted sections, the opening, gripping rolls, drawing frames and breaking mechanism being in substantially vertical alignment, whereby rectilinear movement of the drawn sheet will cause the same to pass between the rolls and sections of the frames and breaking mechanism.

12. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus com prising a reservoir having an opening at its top, a supporting framework above the opening, air-cooled rollers adjacent said openings for gripping the edges of the drawn sheet, ,vertically reciprocating drawing frames mounted in the framework, and breaking mechanism pivdted above the upper limit of travel of the drawing frames, the opening, gripping rolls, drawing frames and breaking mechanism being in substantially vertical alignment, a conveyor mounted on the framework adjacent the breaking mechanism, and means for rocking the breaking mechanism to sever and deposit the'formed plates on said conveyor.

13. A sheet-glass drawing apparatus comprising a reservoir having an opening at its top, a supporting framework above the sheet,

5; asoaoae opening, air-cooled rollers adjacent said opening for'gripping the edges of the drawn ve cally reciprocating drawing frames mounted in the framework and breaking mechanism pivoted above the upper limit of travel of the drawing frames, the opening, gripping rolls, drawing frames and breaking mechanism being in-substan tially vertical alignment, a conveyor belt mounted on the framework adjacent the breaking mechan sm, the arms of which are adapted to rock so as to move below the upper surface of the belt, and means for periodically rocking the breaking mechanism to sever and deposit the formed plates on the belt. i

14. A sheet glass drawing apparatus 60111- prising a reservoir having an opening, a

supporting framework above the opening,

drawin frames reci rocatin therein gripping rolls disposed between the frames returning the bending section to normal position, and for continuing the said rockmg movement of the transferring section to deposit the formed plates on said conveyor. In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

THOMAS E. CAMPBELL, JR. 

